"Let's go," said Professor Zion softly, hugging Arwen, who was still sobbing in his arms.
Arwen gasped softly. She didn't mean to accept the hug, but her body was already trapped in the professor's warm embrace.
Her heart was beating fast, as if it were about to burst. Slowly, she lifted her face, her tear-stained eyes meeting Zion's sharp, mysterious gaze.
Arwen said nothing. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out. Only a fragile gaze that seemed to demand an answer: why did this man, revered by so many female students, suddenly admit his feelings for her?
Zion held his breath when he saw Arwen's face. The face of his mate was so heartbreaking.
"Don't be afraid," he said softly. "You're with me now. And I will always protect you."
Without waiting for an answer, Zion stepped forward. His strong arms remained around Arwen's shoulders.
His movement caused the crowd of students surrounding them to part, as if the professor's aura was forcing a path open.
The atmosphere was instantly silent; only whispers of curiosity and shock could be heard. Some students stared enviously, and others couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Arwen could only obey. Her legs were weak, but Zion's grip seemed to guide her without giving her a chance to resist.
On the other side, Astrid stood with a pale, tense face. Her fingers were clenched, her sharp nails almost piercing her skin. Her eyes flashed with hatred.
"Did you see that?" she whispered to one of her friends in an angry tone. "He's getting more and more proud."
Astrid's voice was filled with envy and a desire to destroy Arwen right then and there.
Lionel, who was standing not far from her, also stared at Zion and Arwen's departure with a hardened jaw. His lips were tightly closed, holding back his overflowing anger.
Astrid glanced at Lionel, a sly smile appearing on her face.
"We can't just stand by. Arwen must be eliminated," she said softly, only loud enough for Lionel to hear.
Lionel didn't answer, but the look in his eyes said it all, and he agreed.
Meanwhile, Zion's footsteps grew fainter, leaving behind a place filled with increasingly loud whispers.
Arwen tried to catch her breath, her head bowed. But just as they reached the main campus building, Zion lowered his face and whispered in the girl's ear.
"You know, Arwen..." Zion hissed. "I won't let anyone touch you. Because from the beginning, you have been mine and will always be mine."
Arwen froze. The world seemed to stop spinning. She still didn't fully understand Zion's repeated words.
***
Professor Zion's office on the top floor of the main building was quiet; only the ticking of the clock could be heard. The large glass walls offered a view of the campus, but Zion's attention was fixed on the girl sitting in front of him.
Arwen was still looking down, her fingers clenched tightly in her lap. Her face was pale, even though she was trying hard to hide the remaining tears.
Zion sat in the chair opposite her, his gaze soft.
"Arwen," he said in a low, soothing voice, "you don't need to be afraid anymore."
Arwen shook her head slowly. Her voice trembled as she said, "Professor, if the campus council really expels me, what should I do?" She swallowed hard, holding back the tears that were welling up in her eyes.
"I just want to graduate on time. I want a steady job so I can bring my grandmother to live with me in the city. I don't want her to be alone in that small village..."
Arwen covered her face with both hands, her body shaking violently. The sound of sobbing could be heard again.
Zion got up, walked around the table, and stood beside her. He looked down, staring at the girl with a determined gaze. It was the gaze of an Alpha toward his wounded mate. Slowly, he placed his hand on Arwen's shoulder, giving her strength to stay strong.
"Arwen," he whispered. "You will not lose your future. As long as I am here, no one can take that away from you. "
Arwen slowly lifted her face, her eyes wet with despair.
" But they all hate me. Astrid, Lionel, and even my classmates. I'm just a nerdy girl with no one. What's the point of fighting them?"
Zion resisted the urge to hug her again. His jaw tightened, his gaze turning cold as he mentioned those names.
"They may have many followers, Arwen. But you have something stronger."
Arwen fell silent, staring at him in confusion. "What is it?"
Zion leaned forward, his voice low but cold as ice. "You have me. If you want, I can make them all pay for how they treated you."
Arwen's heart was beating fast. For some reason, she felt this way more and more often when she was around Zion. Arwen gasped, her lips slightly parted, but unable to say anything.
Zion looked at her deeply, holding back the anger and pain he felt every time he saw Arwen suffer.
"If the campus council dares to expel you," he said firmly, "I will face them myself. And if the decision cannot be changed, I will leave this position with you."
Arwen's eyes widened, becoming increasingly teary. "Professor, you can't—"
"I can," Zion interrupted quickly, his voice firm. "Because to me, none of this means anything without you."
The room fell silent. Only the sound of their breathing could be heard.
Arwen bowed her head again, her chest tight with fear mixed with something else, a warm, unfamiliar feeling that she couldn't deny.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, but this time they weren't just tears of despair. There was a sense of relief creeping in, albeit faintly.
Zion looked at her, then gently said, "Those tears are not a sign of weakness, Arwen. They are a sign that you are still fighting. And I will always fight with you."
Arwen lifted her face and stared intently at the professor, her clear eyes full of doubt. However, before she could say anything, there was a loud knock on the wooden door of the study.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Both of them turned abruptly. Arwen held her breath, her body tensing spontaneously.
Zion, curious, got up from his seat.
***
Whispers filled the campus cafeteria. Arwen's name, which usually never left anyone's mouth, was now the center of attention.
"Professor Zion is really defending her."
"That's crazy, it doesn't make sense. A professor as great as him siding with a useless nerd?"
"I heard he claimed Arwen as his property—"
The whispers made Astrid feel even more disgusted. She stood in the middle of her circle of friends, her face pale, her jaw clenched in anger.
"His?" Astrid emphasized the word mockingly. "That's just a silly illusion. Professor Zion would never tie himself to a cheap girl like Arwen."
One of her friends, Reina, tried to calm her down: "Maybe Zion just made a mistake. You know, to protect the campus's reputation..."
Astrid turned sharply, her eyes flashing with anger.
"No. He was humiliated. We were all humiliated. And the one who enjoyed all this the most was Arwen."
Lionel gulped his drink roughly.
Since last night, his ego had been wounded. His once respected name was now the subject of ridicule because Arwen was being defended by a professor who was revered by the campus.
Astrid approached him, her voice low, sharp as poison. "Lionel, are you just going to stay silent? Everyone is laughing at you. Arwen made you look weak in front of the entire campus. Professor Zion is only making things worse. "
Lionel stared at her, his eyes dark." What do you want, Astrid? "
Astrid smiled crookedly." Something simple. Let's make everyone realize who Arwen really is. I'll spread the truth that she's just a despicable woman who used dirty tricks to ensnare a professor."
Stella, Astrid's other friend, whispered hesitantly, "That's slander, Astrid. If Zion finds out—"
Astrid patted her on the shoulder, leaning in with a
sly smile.
"Zion is only human. And even a professor's reputation can be destroyed."
Lionel sighed deeply, but there was a sly smile on his lips.
"If that's what you want, I don't mind making Arwen regret ever setting foot on this campus."
Astrid moved closer, her eyes flashing with envy. "Good. If Professor Zion wants to protect Arwen, then let him go down with her."
"It sounds like you have a good plan," Lionel said curiously.
Astrid smiled crookedly, then leaned her face close to Lionel's ear, whispering something that made Lionel smile slyly.